Probe reveals examples of children abusing adults

Parents are turning to the police in Cambridgeshire to report their own children for domestic violence, a freedom of information investigation by the Cambridge News has revealed.

In one case, a five-year-old boy was reported for common assault. At least two six-year-old boys and three seven-year-old boys were also reported for common assault, while two boys aged seven were reported for assault with injury.

In total, the county’s police investigated 518 children for allegedly abusing their parents or other adults in their homes during 2017.

Those figures could be the tip of the iceberg. Detective inspector Iain Moor said: “Under-reporting is a factor we’re trying to tackle because, more often than not, those affected by domestic abuse are too frightened, intimidated or embarrassed to come forward.”

Children under 10 are below the age of criminal responsibility and cannot be arrested or prosecuted for an offence, but police can record the crime and the youngster made subject of a child safety order or placed under the supervision of social workers or a multi-agency team.

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The NCDV magazine is published to bring together a vast array of news that is published on a monthly basis but is scattered around the internet. We focus on domestic abuse and violence stories but occasionally we will bring you personal stories from individual survivors demonstrating the enormous strength they have discovered and the incredible journey they have taken.